Bulletin - July 2022
I support CRP Registration campaign - what a week!
Did you get involved in the I support CRP Registration campaign last week? It was great to see so much support for the CRP Accredited Register and the CRP role. It was a real celebration of CRPs and the work they do.
A key focus for the week was a tweet chat which asked questions around the skills and strengths of CRPs, why they play a significant role in the future of clinical research and why you support accredited registration. If you didn’t manage to take part on the day then you can take a look at this twitter moment. And here are a couple of tweets from Ben Johnson and Emma Howard who helped facilitate the tweet chat along with Maya Leach
So many interested people in this conversation! Fabulous! Would be great to get a handle on the number of people who feel they are a #CRPractitioner or similar non-regulated role in #Research across the Nations. How many potential CRPs are in your organisation? Ben Johnson, Clinical Research Practitioner
Thanks so much for the great contributions. Would be so great to keep hearing views and experiences of CRPs - let's keep connecting and supporting each other, especially on the road to registration! Emma Howard, Senior Cardiac Research Practitioner
Many CRPs and managers shared their stories about their experiences across the week, we’ve pulled together just a few of the many highlights. We hope you enjoy looking back at the week, let’s keep spreading the word!
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust launches CRP support programme
Fahim Ahmed - Senior Clinical Research Practitioner,
Cancer Clinical Trials, NIHR Clinical Research Network : North West London
With the support of currently accredited CRPs, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have launched a CRP Support Programme. The programme will improve awareness of the current opportunities available related to the CRP Directory and accreditation with the AHCS. As well as providing opportunities for CRPs to access support as required to enable a timely application for AHCS accreditation. This includes both group and one to one support. We have an aim of 50% of the workforce to become successfully accredited by summer 2023.
Each CRP will receive tailored support to ensure completion of the requirements for AHCS accreditation and within 3 months of commencing the programme. To facilitate this, dedicated time within the working day will be allocated to support completion of required documents. Each CRP will have the opportunity to discuss their reflections with accredited colleagues and peer support from CRP colleagues currently completing AHCS accreditation.
The programme will have the following structure:
1. A CRP Forum will be run every 2 months to provide information and peer support in addition to developing a CRP community across the Trust.
2. Information sessions will be run to discuss requirements to complete AHCS accreditation. CRPs will be able to learn from those who have already completed the process.
3. Having started to complete the written component of the accreditation process CRPs will be offered one to one guidance from a mentor who is already fully accredited. This will provide tailored support to enable timely submission of the required documents to the AHCS.
FAQs
Q: I am a practitioner with significant experience and don’t hold degree-level education. How can I prepare my application to register as a CRP while I'm waiting for the process that will check my suitability for access to apply to the Accredited Register to open for experienced applicants without a degree?
A: Please don’t hold back and wait for this gateway to open! For those CRPs with significant practitioner level experience there is work you can do now so that you are ready when the gateway to check your suitability to access CRP registration opens. Although you can’t submit your application to join the CRP register at this stage you can still begin to pull together the evidence you need to demonstrate that your practice experience and training meets the Scope of Practice and Standards of Proficiency for CRP registration. You can set aside the time you will need to compose your reflective statements and have conversations with your manager and other colleagues who will be supporting your application to register through offering assurance of your training and practice development. CRPs who have already completed their application to the register have told us that it takes around 15 hours to complete their application. So if you are able to gradually work on yours until the gateway for experienced practitioners opens then you will be ready to go! If you have any questions please contact workforceandprofessionscrn@nihr.ac.uk
The first CRP on the accredited register in Scotland
Tiffany Stewart, Clinical Studies Officer
Neuroprogressive and Dementia Research Network – NHS Tayside
Hearing about this scheme is one of the most exciting things to have happened in my career to date.
I have worked in clinical research for 14 years since graduating in Psychology in 2008, and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience, particularly as part of NHS Research Scotland’s Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network (NRS NDN).
However, having recently completed my MSc in Health Psychology, senior positions within clinical research can be difficult to progress towards without having a registered position. I therefore welcome the register for CRPs as I feel strongly that a diverse workforce of individuals from a variety of backgrounds is crucial in delivering the complex clinical trials that we see in research today. Fundamentally, it underlines the value of practitioners and of all research staff while representing an important opportunity to have my role recognised formally.
Taking research into the community : CRPs share their experiences
On the 29th of June 2022, Caroline Winckley and Hemali Patel, both Assistant Clinical Research Practitioners and Margaret Broughton-Smith, Clinical Research Practitioner at NIHR Clinical Research Network: Greater Manchester, shared their experiences of taking research out into the community to under-served populations, delivering on a variety of studies and engaging with local individuals and organisations.
They also discussed the evolution and progression of the role of Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs) within the healthcare sector and the vital role they play in the research delivery workforce.
If you weren't able to attend this "lunch and learn" session check out the slides on the Research and Engagement Collaborative page on NIHR Learn.
CRP Drop in sessions
Need some help completing your Clinical Research Practitioner register application? Come along to our next drop in session
Thursday 25th August between 15:00 – 16:00: Click here to join the meeting
Monday 26th September between 10:00 – 11:00: Click here to join the meeting
Friday 28th October between 12:00 – 13:00: Click here to join the meeting
Tuesday 22nd November between 15:00 – 16:00: Click here to join the meeting
Thursday 22nd December between 09:00 – 10:00: Click here to join the meeting
Please come along with your questions or any reflections you may have! If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us - crpadmin@ahcs.ac.uk.
We also have resources available on our website that may help you with completing your application: